Saturday, December 30, 2017

Author of the “Kinsey Millhone Alphabet” mystery series has passed after a battle with cancer. The series began in 1982 with A is for Alibi and now ends with Y is for Yesterday. The final installment, Z is for Zero, was scheduled for publication in 2019. The author was adamant that her books not be ghost-written, so Kinsey Millhone unlikely to have a neat ending. The series earned Ms Grafton best-seller status and numerous awards. Her novels were published in 26 languages.

Friday, December 29, 2017

Picture BooksStolen Words by Melanie FlorenceSchomburg: The Man Who Built a Library by Carole Boston WeatherfordA Different Pond by Bao PhiHer Right Foot by Dave EggersWhy Am I Me? by Paige Britt

The Wolf, the Duck, and the Mouse by Mac BarnettBuddy and Earl Go to School by Maureen FergusNow by Antoinette Portis Town Is by the Sea by Joanne SchwartzSilent Days, Silent Dreams by Allen Say Middle Grade Books (Ages 9-12)Undefeated: Jim Thorpe and the Carlisle Indian School Football Team by Steve Sheinkin The Stars Beneath Our Feet by David Barclay MoorePablo and Birdy by Alison McGheeA Properly Unhaunted Place by William AlexanderSputnik's Guide to Life on Earth by Frank Cottrell Boyce Lucky Broken Girl by Ruth BeharThe Doorman's Repose by Chris Raschka The Secret of Nightingale Wood by Lucy Strange The Lotterys Plus One by Emma DonoghueWicked Bugs by Amy Stewart

Teen BooksThe Hate U Give by Angie ThomasYou Bring the Distant Near by Mitali PerkinsDreamland Burning by Jennifer LathamThe Bone Witch by Rin ChupecoCrossing Ebenezer Creek by Tonya BoldenThe Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtueby Mackenzi LeeLandscape with Invisible Hand by M.T. Anderson A Skinful of Shadows by Frances Hardinge Queer, There, and Everywhere: 23 People Who Changed the World by Sarah PragerThe 57 Bus: A True Story of Two Teenagers and the Crime That Changed Their Lives by Dashka Slater

There’s buzz in the nonprofit community about what kind of impact the newly passed tax legislation will have on charitable giving. For some middle income filers, who normally itemize, contributions to charity won’t be deductible in the future.

For those in a financial position to do so, some suggest contributing more than one year of donations to your favorite charities before midnight on Sunday 31 December 2017.

The Friends of the Ocee Library is a non-profit group whose purpose is to promote general knowledge of library services and to provide financial assistance for special library needs and events. Our primary focus is on children's services.

If you can make a financial donation to Friends of Ocee Library, you can do so online through Georgia Gives Day.

We'll gladly accept support as a Friends volunteer or through membership. For more information, please contact us at email@oceefriends.org

Wednesday, December 27, 2017

Feeling guilty for not spending enough time with your under fives? The good news is that quality time matters more than quantity. Having fun is the main thing. Try eating together - older kids can help with food prep. Let them help with other chores around the house like unloading the dryer. Turn up the tunes and dance! Get away from the same daily routine and try something new. READ, READ, and READ some more. Besides books, the library offers story-telling, music, art programs, movie showings, and more. Pick up a calendar next time you're in and get to know Ocee kids' librarians Ms Kennedy and Mr Brown.

Whether you're behind on reading this year's books and are looking ahead to new releases, here's some suggestions for 2017 fiction (flying bears, can walnuts get you pregnant, and teen friendships) and what to look forward to in 2018 (Barbara Kingsolver, Zadie Smith, Kate Atkinson...)

Storybook Dads records prisoners reading bedtime stories onto CDs and DVDs, so children in 5,000 families across Britain can share time with their dad. Christmas is an especially busy time for this organisation. Kids can keep the recordings and listen anytime they're lonely and missing their dads. Several inmates have been trained in audio production to edit the recording - they even include sound effects. The charity also has a program for incarcerated moms as well. Prisioner who maintain contact with their families are 6 times less likely to re-offend.

“This project has helped my daughter so much, to the point where she wants to come and see me. I believe this is because of the comfortable surroundings in the DVD, which helped to change the horrible picture of prison in her imagination as she saw her daddy on the TV happy and smiling...so grateful for what Storybook Dads has done for me and more importantly for my children.”

Wednesday, December 13, 2017

Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Principals Christina Smith (flute) and Elisabeth Remy Johnson (harp) will present a family-friendly program of flute and harp music, along with discussion of the musical selections and their instruments. Free and open to the public.

Tuesday, December 12, 2017

Learn more about Hanukkah or visit the library. Ocee has over 50 children's titles about Hanukkah for you to enjoy during the 8 day "Festival of Lights". You can also find kosher and holiday recipe books!

Monday, December 11, 2017

Take a look over these family Christmas traditions that aim for quality over quantity! Books, charity, food, and experiences are the common thread. Which ones will you adopt for your family and friends?

(PS: AFPLS can help with 'experiences'. You can check out free passesto Georgia State Parks and Atlanta Zoo. Ask at the circulation desk.)

“This is how we do presents: Something you want, something you need, something to wear, something to read and then Santa’s gift (something special).” ― Christine Simpson

“We try to do presents that are all experiences and spending time together. We do get a few extra presents that my son wants. We give books about what experiences we are doing. We always give as a present one ornament for our tree, which my son will get when he goes off and has his own. We always pick a charity in giving back and donate to them. We make cinnamon rolls, which my son loves. They are a treat during the holidays.” ― Kathy Fulham read more

"Hey, great idea: if you have kids, give your partner reading vouchers next Christmas. Each voucher entitles the bearer to two hours’ reading time while the kids are awake. It might look like a cheapskate present, but parents will appreciate that it costs more in real terms than a Lamborghini.” Nick Hornby, The Polysyllabic Spree

Looking for Christmas gifts, books or magazines for your holiday guest room, or children's books to to keep the kids busy over the winter break? Browse the Friends of Ocee Library Book Nook (in front of the self check out). We often get books in like new condition. Our prices will help stretch your budget as well - hardbacks: $2, soft cover: $1. Children/small paperbacks: 50 cents. Money raised at the Nook are used to fund library programs and materials, so your gift gives twice!

Friday, December 8, 2017

Caught up in the commercialization of the season? Signature has a list of book quotes to ponder. Here's a couple:Janet Evanovich, Visions of Sugar Plums, 2002“Everyone wants a Christmas tree. If you had a Christmas tree Santa would bring you stuff! Like hair curlers and slut shoes.”Helen Fielding, Bridget Jones’s Diary, 1996“Ugh. Would that Christmas could just be, without presents. It is just so stupid, everyone exhausting themselves, miserably haemorrhaging money on pointless items nobody wants: no longer tokens of love but angst-ridden solutions to problems…

Monday, December 4, 2017

Mental Floss reports, "if you're trying to commit something to memory, you shouldn't just read the same flashcard over and over. You should read it aloud, according to a new study from the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada.The research, published in the journal Memory, finds that the act of reading and speaking text aloud is a more effective way to remember information than reading it silently or just hearing it read aloud. The dual effect of both speaking and hearing helps encode the memory more strongly, the study reports. The new research builds on previous work on the so-called production effect by Waterloo psychologist Colin MacLeod, who is also one of the current paper's authors. "